Game 117: End of the Homestand

This afternoon’s series finale against the Indians is the difference between a 5-2 homestand and a 4-3 homestand. The former sure looks a whole lot better than the latter, doesn’t it? After getting Klubered yesterday, hopefully the Yankees will come out and wrap this homestand up with a win before going to Baltimore for an incredibly important three-game series. Here is the Indians lineup and here is the Yankees lineup:

It’s another gorgeous day for baseball in New York. Nice and sunny, no clouds, no rain in the forecast, just a perfect afternoon to be at the ballpark. This afternoon’s game will begin a bit after 1pm ET and you can watch on YES. Enjoy.

Which means Ichiro plays, which means he’s practically a full time player again.

Gregory Eckes

Bit of a jump, isn’t it?

BKamm

IDK. he’s played in every game this month.

CarlosRodriguezNeuf

what an absurdity that he’s getting a day off. We get Teix back, so it’s time to sit someone else.

Rick

I’m hoping this is a joke

CarlosRodriguezNeuf

Our chase for the playoffs is a joke. Half days off here, Full days off there, Days off everywhere.

Howler

My guess is he wants him on the bench in case Tex can’t continue and doesn’t want to play musical chairs with the rest of the players and keep them in their positions.

Pkyankfan69

Nice to see Tex back in there, hopefully his pinky doesn’t fall off during the game today… Too bad Headley is sitting, it would be nice to see the line up sans Ichiro.

Gregory Eckes

You’re going to dislike this but Ichiro is a bit hot, although SSS. 4 for his last 10.

AskMeAboutMyCandyBars

Based on this board, you’d think Ichiro had a 100/110/105 triple slash line. He’s no longer an All-Star, but so much better than the RAB consensus. You also forgot to mention three stolen bases in the series, and excellent defense.

Howler

Excellent defense in moments…but also some incidences where he looks like he’s stumbling around a bit. If there are runners in scoring position he’s overmatched and that just makes a hole in the lineup that this offense can’t afford.

Pkyankfan69

Pretty sure Ichiro OPS’d sub .600 in June and July… Unacceptable in RF no matter the defense

AskMeAboutMyCandyBars

Look it up (or wait for NP&H to chime in).

Gregory Eckes

.589

HansDavenport

That’s pitiful.

Deathstroke Heathcott

He’s a perfectly adequate 4th outfielder with his speed and defense with a one-dimensional bat that can be deployed against the right matchups or situations. People here make it seem like he’s an anchor dragging down the team but he shouldn’t be blamed for having to play everyday due to injuries.

BKamm

Blaming the manager and front office. Not Itchy.

BKamm

Agreed.

The Other Matt

Agreed. Ichiro is finding himself in the lineup a little bit too much for my liking since we have made the trade. First Tex’s lightheadedness, then his thumb, now Headley with the day off. Joe G. loves him some Ichiro, that’s for sure.

BKamm

Last extra base hit and RBI was July 25. He’s scored two runs in the past two weeks. All meaningless singles.

CarlosRodriguezNeuf

Defend your field!

dkidd

big mike lurkin’

The Other Matt

Serious question, although irrelevant: Does Brian Roberts make that play?

Bill Smith

So with three division winners and the Angels as a shoo in as a wild card, there are now Four teams, Toronto, the Yankees, Kansas City and Seattle fighting for that last wild card spot..Is that correct??

AskMeAboutMyCandyBars

If one accepts all your assumptions, than it is correct. I don’t accept those assumptions.

Deathstroke Heathcott

Agreed. Still way too much baseball left to be played to just hand the Orioles the division.

dkidd

or the tigers or the a’s

Deathstroke Heathcott

It’s not even late August, I don’t get how anyone is locked into anything yet.

Gregory Eckes

And I believe that it is time to take the Royals seriously

Rick

They make you say that a couple times of year. They never finish the job. Let’s see where they are 30 games from now.

The Other Matt

When they’re swinging the bat, they’re legit. The pitching is there. James Shields is James Shields. Jeremy Guthrie is nothing special, but gets the job done, and is a guy that consistently out-performs his peripheral numbers, specifically FIP. And Ventura has been solid for them so far. Their bullpen is legit, and they have some of the best defenders in the game at their position, namely Gordon, Hosmer, and Escobar is solid at SS (I believe, I forget what the numbers say). It’s all dependent upon their bats going to work.

Gregory Eckes

Bad Kuroda

Gregory Eckes

And it’s worse because it puts a mediocre offense on the back foot

Person Of Interest

Are the people lauding 40 y/o Jeter’s .276/.327/.331 the same people who constantly complan about 40y/o Ichiro’s .276/.326/.320?

Gregory Eckes

That’s a fair point. Ichiro and Jeter are putting up similar numbers

http://riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa

Pretty sure no one is actually lauding Jeter.

Howler

I’ll give Jeter his due…coming back from a bad injury no one expected him to play this many games, or put up even decent numbers.

Pkyankfan69

One is playing SS and is a living Yankee legend in his final year… One is playing RF which is a position you rely on for offense… Not fair but that’s just the way it is

Gregory Eckes

I never understood the whole “offensive positions” thing.

Howler

Ichiro’s .276 is based on a very strong start but has faded sharply from that point.

The Other Matt

Jeter is probably the one of the most criticized players here on RAB, next to Ichiro, despite his legendary status.

BKamm

People have incorrectly doubted Jeter’s greatness for ages.

dkidd

buehrle working fast, throwing strikes, and giving up runs

CarlosRodriguezNeuf

Great managing by Joe Girardi. Bench the excellent defensively Headley. For a the below average player Prado. It’s not like we’re in a playoff race and a game behind.

Gregory Eckes

Bit of a fallacy there. You can’t say Headley gets that.

CarlosRodriguezNeuf

Did I say he would have?

Gregory Eckes

Kind of implying it, given the timing of the statement

CarlosRodriguezNeuf

I wasn’t, though I see where one might have gotten that implication.

Rick

Nice play by Ramirez, I didn’t think he had a shot at that at all

Brian Cashman

not sure how jeter will catch up to the 4 seamers without cheating.

CarlosRodriguezNeuf

Joe Girardi: Managing for the long-term with a complete disregard for the short-term.

Terry Noack

Kuroda with another early inning meltdown to put the team down early! This seems to be a pattern with him lately.

Gregory Eckes

Last 4 starts

http://yankees.lhblogs.com/ Need Pitching & Hitting

Meltdown???
Was there even a single hard hit ball in that inning?

Rick

There were a couple of hard hit balls … Ramirez and Brantley stung pitches. Great play by Drew really limited the damage.

http://yankees.lhblogs.com/ Need Pitching & Hitting

Neither of those balls were remotely stung. They were moderate speed ground balls at best.

Rick

I guess we are watching different games. Brantley’s ball basically one hopped Gardner, Drew had to dive for Ramirez’s

http://riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa

“Basically” one hopped but it didn’t actually one hop. Drew had to dive because of the location, not the velocity of the hit.

http://yankees.lhblogs.com/ Need Pitching & Hitting

I just counted on Brantley’s ball. Eleven hops before Gardner came in to pick it up.
Ramirez’s was a soft, slow chopper. Drew had to dive because it was a long way from where he was positioned.

Terry Noack

who cares. This is a pattern of a tired pitcher and this happened last year. He puts a ton of pressure on himself because the offense can’t give him runs.

http://yankees.lhblogs.com/ Need Pitching & Hitting

Not sure giving up weak contact is the pattern of a tired pitcher.
Agree on the second part though.

Person Of Interest

Early or late he’s posted a 3.24 era and a .90 whip for the past month. This team has problems, Kuroda is not one of them, imo.

NYCORNERSTONE

seems like he does it every time out

Deathstroke Heathcott

If this is a meltdown, wth was that Bauer thing a couple days ago?

http://riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa

Your standard for a meltdown are very low.

Madrugador

Jeter is mentioned as being in 6th place for career hits. Does Cap Anson at 3435 hits not count since he played before 1900?

LazerTown

MLB counts him as just over 3000.

Person Of Interest

Anson’s first 423 hits were in the National Association, a forerunner of the National League and are not counted as Major League hits.

RhapsodyInBlue

Anson’s first five years in the pros he played in the National Association league, that league isn’t recognized by MLB (yet).

Dos Luises

I think you’re correct. They typically use “Common Era” stats which are post 1900.

Jimmy

I think the cut-off is 1876, when the National League was established out of what was the National Association.

CarlosRodriguezNeuf

What’s Teix’s next injury? A strained buttock? Carl Pavano part deux with the buttocks?

yankeefan91

dammit

Rick

Tough break for Teix there.

The Other Matt

That was a good AB by Tex despite it resulting in an out. #F^ckTheShift

bernbabybern

Shi*t!

bernbabybern

I think I’m for the idea of a rule limiting infielders to 2 on each side of second base.

Deathstroke Heathcott

Meh, I’m for the idea of teaching young hitters to use more of the whole field so that the overshift isn’t a valid strategy.

Rick

That’s so much easier said than done. I wouldn’t change the rules of the game regardless. It’s just a period of change, and people don’t like that.

Deathstroke Heathcott

Of course. But I’d say we should give the upcoming players a chance to adjust before we ban a legit strategy out just because the current players are too ingrained to change their ways. Not every future player is gonna be an all-field hitter of course but maybe some guys work on at least bunting the opposite way to keep shifts a little more honest, maybe some guys learn to shorten the swing and go the other way in some situations.

Rick

I agree that we should leave the rules the same. Wouldn’t even consider changing them.

bernbabybern

It’s not going to happen, because big guys are expected to hit for power and for most that means pulling the ball. What we’ll end up with is watching a bunch of .220-.250 hitters with power. Yuck.

Terry Noack

Since when did Brantley become the new Yankee killer anyways?? Yankees always have difficulty with one particular player on a team. How about pitching him differently. I remember a Sox play a couple of years ago who killed Yankee pitching, Ciriaco!

Gregory Eckes

Brantley’s a good player though. An All Star this year

Terry Noack

I realize that, but Yankee pitchers always let the other teams best players beat them. I’ve seen this with Ortiz. Pitch them inside or walk them, but don’t let them beat you!

Rick

He’s having a career year, been doing it to a lot of teams this year.

Jimmy

Except for the Bosox. They typically get 2-3 every year. Ortiz will be able to hit .500 against the Yankees when he’s well into his 60’s.

NYCORNERSTONE

he looks fine anyway getting good swings

Gregory Eckes

Tyler Skaggs falls victim to the Tommy John trend

Jorge Steinbrenner

Sucks.

Dos Luises

Bummer. He’s Boss.

BKamm

Ever seen his sister? She’s a real Skagg.

Jorge Steinbrenner

Scrolling through. A bunch of deleted comments. Did we have a fake or something?

BKamm

The “ask me about my candy bars” lady made a snide, snotty comment towards Mr. Axisa and the rest of the blog. I’m certain she regrets it now.

http://riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa

That wasn’t it.

BKamm

Sorry. Appeared that way to me. I apologize for jumping the gun.

Howler

Your punishment is you have to watch Mets games for the rest of the season.

Deathstroke Heathcott

Lol, Mike has heard way snider, snottier comments than being called an “Ichiro hater”, I doubt it bothered him.

Jimmy

Sorry you’ve had “RAB Den Mother” added to your duties here, Mike.

NYCORNERSTONE

hi mike couldn’t get the game thread for awhile today ?

Deathstroke Heathcott

Meltdown averted!

The Other Matt

Looking like the Kuroda of old. Ground ball, double play to end the inning.

The Other Matt

Old meaning, the first year and a half he was with the Yankees.

The Other Matt

I thought Walters was a shortstop/infield prospect.

BKamm

He was originally when e was in the Nats system. He played a little bit of everywhere in the minors with the Nats. I understand Cleveland has a SS prospect and plans to play Walters in the OF.

Cill Bosby

What do you guys think about Kipnis?

NYCORNERSTONE

wish we had him

Rick

Paul O’Neill and Michael Kay make it sound like baseball is a game that can be easily explained. So much so that if a team doesn’t consistently score a run every 2-3 innings, there is something seriously wrong.

Deathstroke Heathcott

Yeah, Ma and Pa Yankee know that you just can’t predict baseball.

Rick

Haha I was thinking that as I wrote it, but it’s nowhere near as simple as they make it out to be. Does our offense struggle to score runs? Sure. But it’s not as simple as “they haven’t scored since a 5 run inning and now haven’t scored in 13 straight.” There is much more to it then that.

Deathstroke Heathcott

Yeah I agree with your general point but to be fair, you’re describing 80% of the commenters on RAB so maybe Kay and O’Neill are just hitting their target audience.

Howler

I’ve actually liked how O’Neill has developed as an announcer, certainly more listenable to me than their other alternatives.

Rick

Agreed

Jimmy

Agreed. Seems like a more serious version of Scooter. Good stories, willing to joke. I hope he keeps up with this.

Deathstroke Heathcott

Paul O’Neill is always good for a solid chuckle or two every broadcast. Self-deprecating at times, playfully making fun of Kay at other times. He’s one of my favorites to listen to. Also gives good insight from a hitter’s point of view.

Howler

Kind of reminds me of Kaat too…wish they had him back as well.

Billy Bats Eppler

If Tony Pena ever gets a managerial job, though, I think ONeill would be an interesting bench coach candidate

No 2013 again

I think he’s way better than Flash for instance. I like him and Cone the most out of the alternatives.

No 2013 again

Kuroda looks like crap.. no command of any of his pitches

Rick

I wouldn’t mind a rule change in baseball where they adopt a page out of the softball playbook and put first base for the runner in foul territory.

http://yankees.lhblogs.com/ Need Pitching & Hitting

Not that Ichiro had a chance there, but can it take any longer to get rid of the ball?

Rick

He had trouble getting it out of his glove and clearly didn’t grip it well. It happens when you’re trying to rush a throw.

Deathstroke Heathcott

He didn’t have a chance there anyway and looked like he double-clutched the ball in his glove.

http://riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa

He’s had a slow release since he got to NY, at least. Not sure how far back it goes.

Deathstroke Heathcott

He’s always had a slowish release but his arm used to be an absolute cannon back in Seattle so it didn’t matter. His arm’s slowed down now a bit so the slow release just stands out a lot in NY.

No 2013 again

That was an awful pitch, hanging slider. Brantley juuust missed that one

NYCORNERSTONE

looks like a repeat of the first inning

Deathstroke Heathcott

So that’s two meltdowns in the first 3 innings?

NYCORNERSTONE

all the new arms success Pineda and Tanaka come back might mean curtains for kuroda

Rick

Hilarious

Deathstroke Heathcott

Kuroda hasn’t pitched too well this game so far but the Yankees are still right in this game and more importantly Kuroda has 3.42 ERA since the ASB.

Rick

There have been some rockets this inning

http://yankees.lhblogs.com/ Need Pitching & Hitting

yes

Rick

Half of them went foul, thankfully

Deathstroke Heathcott

Good job on the footwork by Kuroda there. Let’s score some runs though.

Cill Bosby

Your pic brings back memories of Robinson Cano :(

Deathstroke Heathcott

Sigh, Jeter-Cano was my favorite middle infield duo ever. Gonna suck when neither is on the team next year.

Rick

We’re gonna trade Heathcott for Cano and have Seattle kick in $100M … no big deal

Cill Bosby

Sounds like a steal for the Mariners.

Billy Bats Eppler

I don’t know. If I could get Robbie today for 9/116 I would definitely pull the trigger. Never gonna happen though, sadly

NYCORNERSTONE

another shutout ?

Alkaline

Still early.

Big Game Thames

Really having trouble liking this team.

Deathstroke Heathcott

What about during the Tigers series?

No 2013 again

It was great that they took 3 of 4 from the Tigers, but that seems like a fluke, especially when they turn around and lose 2 of 3 to a mediocre Indians team.

Deathstroke Heathcott

We lost 2 out of 3? I thought this game was only half over?

dkidd

quitters gonna quit

No 2013 again

If Kuroda allows a couple more runs, this is over. He’s about to..

Big Game Thames

Playing Ryan at 2B sucks all life from me.

NYCORNERSTONE

wasted weekend no runs who would like that

Tar

I blame Cervelli…what ever is left goes into the Cashman pot.

dkidd

royals need to pee in a cup

NYCORNERSTONE

hope we score a run by monday get one back tex eh forget that

Big Game Thames

Hope we score 10 runs in the next week.

No 2013 again

Did I just hear that right? This guys is 0-12 in his last 17 starts?

Jimmy

Hockey is pretty hit-or-miss for drafting also.

Terry Noack

14 straight innings without the hint of a run after scoring 10 the other night. This isn’t the makeup of a team going to the playoffs that can be shutdown by a nobody on any given day!!!

Rick

What’re you gonna say if they score 3 runs by the end of the game and win 3-2?

Deathstroke Heathcott

Probably nothing.

Rick

Surprised so many people live and die with baseball teams based on an inning. With 162 games, you’re bound to have great and poor stretches, you just hope the great ones outweigh the poor ones

YankeeBill

Excellent point, but you have to have the talent. And this team does not, at least on the offensive side. Their pitching is more than adequate, but their offense is, in a word, offensive. We are watching the definition of mediocrity. Not bad, just not good.

NYCORNERSTONE

im gonna say thank you god !

Rick

There are many more things to be thankful for than a victory on a random sunday lol … but i got you

NYCORNERSTONE

true that buddy

Terry Noack

I’ll say the same thing i’ve been preaching all season long. Inconsistent offense won’t get you to the playoffs.

Rick

It might

Deathstroke Heathcott

No, no. He’s right. He can stop watching the Yankees since they won’t get to the playoffs and watch some football.

NYCORNERSTONE

cant stop watching ever, its in my blood

Deathstroke Heathcott

Agreed. Now let’s get some runs on the board boys.

NYCORNERSTONE

6 in the 6th 7 in the 7th 8 in the 8th

YankeeBill

Fairy tales can come true, they can happen to you. If you’re young at heart….

YankeeBill

They score three runs today and I’ll eat my cowboy hat.

NYCORNERSTONE

whats so weird is these guys all have proven track records as hitters i mean cmon do something fire long light a fire anything

NYCORNERSTONE

this ump is killing me

http://yankees.lhblogs.com/ Need Pitching & Hitting

That’s not good.

Deathstroke Heathcott

Does not like odd numbered innings.

NYCORNERSTONE

does not like august or september

Tar

Kuroda doesn’t like pitching to Cervelli…Thats my story and I’m sticking to it.

Tar

I was kind of kidding, but I checked anyway. Kuroda’s catchers splits

Cervelli

.306 .342.441.783

McCann

.247.284.405.689

He really does like throwing to McCann

BKamm

And what kind of a sample size is it where Cervelli is concerned? How many games is that? I never did buy any pitcher not being able to pitch to a particular catcher. Never heard that years ago. Personal catchers and that crap. Sounds like something the press makes up to create more stories.

Tar

IDK

I am just not a fan of Cervelli’s game calling…. so any stats I can find to support my theory will be utilized!

BKamm

Okay. So its all personal. Got it.

Tar

Pretty much…But I still think he sucks at calling a game. McCann on the other hand I like very much….go figure

Tar

111 AB’s Cervelli—- 27 IP

380 AB’s McCann—98.2 IP

bernbabybern

97 pitches, I wonder how many times Girardi needs to see Kuroda start to decline after 80-85 pitches.

Old Die Hard

I agree with you on the pitch count, but Kuroda also has a habit of giving up runs in the first inning… and there is not much you can do about that. He probably is at the end of the line as a useful starting pitcher who is consistent, but there is always the chance he can throw one of his gems.

Rolling Doughnut

Yeah, he should have taken him out before he walked in a run, like two batters before.

Terry Noack

Great job today by the only veteran pitcher on the staff. I rest my case on Kuroda. Walking in a run when runs are hard to come by the last couple of games is just a bad job of pitching. Hope he’s not resigned next year. Go with youth!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

http://yankees.lhblogs.com/ Need Pitching & Hitting

Only veteran pitcher on the staff????

Rick

Amazing, isn’t it?

Terry Noack

Yeah, McCarthy is a veteran, but he’s also someone who wasn’t even on the staff to start the season. This is what Kuroda does every single season down the stretch!!!!

Alkaline

Tough outing Hirok

No 2013 again

0-12 in his last 17 starts and on a pitch count of 75.. all they can manage is 2 hits in 5 shutout innings.

Terry Noack

Pretty pathetic especially in the heat of a playoff race and at their home park!

NYCORNERSTONE

unbelievable, but rogers did the same thing the other night against the tigers

NYCORNERSTONE

will we ever see Mitchell eh

GregD

Clearly we don’t know how to hit that little white ball with those wooden sticks

Pkyankfan69

Getting shut down yesterday by Kluber is understandable…. 2 hits in 5 IP off Carlos Corassucker is not… Offense better wake the hell up, can’t be losing 2/3 to the Indians at home at this point in the season.

Rolling Doughnut

I see they’re facing another Cy Young type guy today.

YankeeBill

Carlos Carrasco. Really? Might be time to raise the white flag and start unloading the dead wood. Place Kuroda on irrevocable trade waivers and see if someone bites. Maybe do the same with Suzuki. Forget about signing Drew for next year, he’s finished as a hitter. Leave Rogers in the rotation and have him take Kuroda’s spot. Go with McCarthy, Greene, Capuano, Pineda and Rogers. Should Phelps and/or Tanaka return, put Rogers in the pen and consider going with a six man rotation in September, when you have the 40 man roster. Enough of what we’re seeing here and let’s look to 2015 and beyond.

NYCORNERSTONE

thats what great about baseball you never know, but yes dfa ishiro maybe trade kuroda to dodgers

Rick

And if the Yankees win 5 straight after this and Royals lose 3 of 5, then what?

https://twitter.com/KramerIndustry Dr. Martin van Nostrand

Yesterday was whatever; we all know Corey Kluber is really good and everything, but today is just grating as hell.

In three of the Yankees’ last five three-game series’ at home, they’ve won the first game and then dropped the next two. This is an irritating theme that is happening again today.

NYCORNERSTONE

6in he 6th cmon !

Alkaline

Alright offense. Enough tease. Let’s score some runs.

bernbabybern

Sad.

Game 3

2 hits, no walks? Is Gameday correct?

Terry Noack

This team will just tease you into thinking they are a capable unit until games like this when they are abysmal and pathetic. This is what they are.

Bunuelo

This game is horrible

YankeeBill

The series against Baltimore is not going to be incredibly important. It’s three more games until the end of a very disappointing season and the end of a legendary Yankee career. An unfortunate ending for the captain.

Deep Thoughts

Now this is a good old-fashioned Prozac Nation game thread like I remember from those halcyon pre-Disqus days.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/roadgeek/ Roadgeek Adam

Murphy with a possible concussion at AAA. Wonder what happens now.

forensic

I was actually wondering if something happened to him since I noticed he was PH for in yesterday’s game. At least now we know (assuming you’re right, I haven’t seen a link myself yet).

gageagainstthemachine

Mitchell sporting 65. Let’s hope his tenure with that number ends better than the great ace hope that was Phil Hughes.

HansDavenport

If giving the same players the same number meant they would perform the same, they never would have retried 3,4,5, and 7.

gageagainstthemachine

Or any other number for that matter. Numbers are meaningless. That’s obvious, but thanks for pointing it out. Was just saying I hope Mitchell turns out better than Hughes (who had all the promise in the world, where as Mitchell is a dark horse to succeed). Thought my sentiments were pretty straight forward and clear. If nothing else, gives me something to talk about during this awful offensive performance.

Rick

“That’s obvious, but thanks for pointing it out.” … I laughed.

Pkyankfan69

Sometimes you just have to tip your cap to Carrasco, Ching Chang, and a 1,000 year old Scott Atchison

HansDavenport

Absolutely!

pat

Goddamn it. Bad angle to see that hook.

just_add_bacon7

You know things aren’t going well when watching golf is actually a more exciting option.

pat

Come on now, tie up Kipns high and inside with the cheese

pat

Great FB. Threw it at the same plane as the offspeed pitches either 95 or 96 mph. Niiice

Deep Thoughts

Oh, watching #65 trying and failing to put away a hitter with two strikes…the memories are flooding back.

You don’t have to read between the lines. #65, electric stuff, endless foul balls with two strikes–it reminded me of Hughes. That’s all. For one at-bat. A moment in time. That moment passed. OK?

HansDavenport

I know who you were talking about. I know Yankee fans are impatient, but you reminded me of George Steinbrenner.

ScottinSJ

No runs in 18 innings straight and counting. About to fall 2.5GB of KC. Now on to BAL. Yay.

Rick

Yea 2.5 GB with 45 to play. This season is over.

ScottinSJ

No, Rick, there’s a lot to look forward to. Another great effort today.

Rick

They have the second or third best record in the league since the ASB. You know that losing 2 in a row in a baseball season is not unheard of. It’s actually pretty common. Crazy in a 162 game season, isn’t it?

ScottinSJ

It’s not just the losing — it’s how. They don’t score against virtually everyone. This has been the case all season. Got to call a spade a spade.

Rick

We get it, they don’t have a great offense. Let’s not pretend this sport is something that it isn’t. They could easily come out and score 6 runs tomorrow, they could easily get shut out as well. They could go 45-0 the rest of the season and finish with over 100 wins.

http://yankees.lhblogs.com/ Need Pitching & Hitting

I’ll take the under on the 45-0.

Rick

It’s probably the safer bet.

ScottinSJ

I’m not going to argue. We’ll see how it plays out. And they may ned to score 6+ to beat BAL.

Rick

Not the way the Baltimore offense has been swinging the bats.

forensic

I’d be willing to bet they can’t go 45-0 the rest of the season. That is pretty unheard of, even in a 162 game season.

Rick

I’d be willing to bet you’re correct. If someone can declare the season is over with over a quarter of the season left to play and we are only 2.5 games out, then I can point out that we can still surpass the 100 win mark. Both comments are stupid and ridiculous – which proves my point about how some are acting.

Terry Noack

The funny thing Rick is there isn’t 162 games left this season. Every game counts now and the schedule gets tougher. These games should be won by them in their park!!!!!!

Deep Thoughts

You know what? You made your repetitive whiny prediction. You don’t think they were giving effort out there? Have someone who can read explain to you the difference between “process” and “results.”

Yanks

Mitchell’s raw stuff is nasty

Terry Noack

Back to back shutouts to a below .500 team in your own home ballpark is unacceptable. If you think it is you’re just fooling yourselves. Terrible weekend of baseball.

ScottinSJ

It’s ugly, and this road trip could be more of the same.

forensic

Well, this game looks like it’s been lots of fun to watch so far. I bet this thread was just as enjoyable…

Rick

Nailed it. Read through the comments and you’ll find the season is over. If we win tomorrow and the Royals lose, it won’t be over anymore.

HansDavenport

Uh, Rick. Your comment of 8 minutes ago is the only one that says the season is over.

Rick

Fail on your end. Read the majority of the comments. It’s been much of the same since the migration.

forensic

The migration has done lots of things, but let’s not act like that kind of thing never happened here even before that.

Rick

That’s fair. I guess it’s all the more frustrating when there are even more people doing it now.

HansDavenport

I did. Yours is the only comment that actually says the season is over. It’s all in your perception. Sorry.

Rick

Except I’ve never once said nor implied the season is over. The same cannot be said for a large portion of the comments after the 3rd inning.

HansDavenport

I saw no one really imply that. Seems that is all in your head.

HansDavenport

I’d rather be here then have spent money going to the game.

http://yankees.lhblogs.com/ Need Pitching & Hitting

Well, at least Mitchell is one bright spot in this game.

Rick

Amazing range by Prado. A 3B fielding the ball in between the 1st and 2nd basemen. UZR now has a headache.

pat

His body language reminds me of a young Andy Pettitte.

Rick

Project #AllenMeltdown will hopefully commence shortly …

MG

All I can suggest after watching these two basically unwatchable games is that someone should give Brendan Ryan a harmonica and tell him Joe wants him to play it on the bus no matter what he says

More like project 20 straight innings without scoring a single run… lol god awful

518forever

Ahh i take that back! Ellsburies it! Ah well we still lose lolol

forensic

I’ll never understand that last bit from O’Neill. I’m sorry, but if they need a series in Baltimore to tell them how important their games are and what’s at stake for them at this point, then they have bigger problems than just not scoring for awhile.

BKamm

Announcers are like that. Especially former players. They attempt to convince viewers and listeners alike, they have some special inside take that we don’t have.

Guy Smith

Forensic is probably right, ice Tanaka for the rest of the year an call this season a learning experience.

Rick

I’d prefer to see Tanaka come back. If in-game pitching is going to cause that UCL to tear, I’d rather find out now, then waste time next season. Of course, this is totally hypothetical.

Guest

When did I say that?

Bill Smith

Forensic, I also agree and thanks.

fmigliorelli

when can we dump kevin long?

http://yankees.lhblogs.com/ Need Pitching & Hitting

When it would likely make a difference?

ScottinSJ

He somehow has maintained full immunity. But there are plenty of folks who will tell you that it’s only a matter of time before this team breaks out and starts hitting.

Habfab

Those complaining forget that Cleveland has an excellent ball club that simply werent meeting expectations . I still think if everybody returns, we have a shot at the World Series.

ScottinSJ

Excellent?? LOL

Terry Noack

Yeah that’s why they traded their best pitcher Masterson???

forensic

Masterson was their best pitcher???

Terry Noack

He was. He was having a down year and they were out of it so they traded him. Kluber is good, but doesn’t have a track record like Masterson has.

Deep Thoughts

It’s like they passed the Village Idiot hat around each day. Let’s see who crawls out of the woodwork tomorrow.

ScottinSJ

Joba getting a chance to close for DET today, and he has allowed the tying run. Bases still loaded in bottom of the 9th.

NYCORNERSTONE

live to die another day

BKamm

That’s a CLOWN comment Sis.
He didn’t need to do that. I haven’t thought highly of Ichiro for years before I read the name Mike Axisa.

BKamm

You really do remind me of Trisha. Are you sure you aren’t her or her sister? It is just like her to suck up to the blog owner and then make a snide, snotty, comment about anyone that may disagree with her.